Double impatiens plant named ‘Boddblsal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Boddblsal’, characterized by its compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green leaves; large salmon pink-colored flowers; fully double flower form; freely flowering habit; and flowers positioned above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Boddblsal’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact Double Impatiens cultivars with fully double flowers, excellent branching, and attractive flower and foliage colors.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross made by the Inventor in October, 1998, of a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as 8IM16-17, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as 8IM746-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The cultivar ‘Boddblsal’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Lompoc, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Lompoc, Calif. since May, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Boddblsal’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Boddblsal’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Dark green leaves; densely foliated.

4. Large salmon pink-colored flowers.

5. Fully double flower form.

6. Freely flowering habit.

7. Flowers positioned above the foliage.

Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent in flower form as plants of the female parent have semi-double flowers. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent in flower form and flower color as plants of the male parent have semi-double pink-colored flowers.

The new Impatiens can be compared to the Impatiens walleriana cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,616. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lompoc, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact and more freely branching than plants of the cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’.

2. Plants of the new Impatiens have broader, but shorter leaves than plants of the cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’.

3. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers but more flowers per lateral branch than plants of the cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’.

4. Flower color of plants of the new Impatiens is salmon pink whereas flower color of plants of the cultivar ‘Pink Ruffle’ is pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Boddblsal’ grown in a 15-cm container for about 14 weeks.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical developing flower buds, upper and lower surfaces of typical flowers, and upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical developing flower buds, upper and lower surfaces of typical flowers, and upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of the new Impatiens (bottom) and ‘Pink Ruffle’ (top).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar ‘Boddblsal’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, water status, and fertilizer rates without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and autumn in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 24 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levels about 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Unrooted cuttings were directly planted in 15-cm containers and grown for about 14 weeks.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar ‘Boddblsal’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as 8IM16-17, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana selection identified as 8IM746-3, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 21° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—About 21 to 28 days at 21° C.

Root description.—Numerous and fine.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading. Appropriate for 15-cm and larger containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching with about 18 lateral branches at the base, dense and bushy growth. Pinching, that is, removal of the terminal apices, enhances branching.

Crop time.—About 8 to 9 weeks are required to produce a finished flowering plant from planting an unrooted cutting in a 15-cm pot.

Plant height.—About 17 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 53 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, alternate; generally symmetrical. Quantity: Densely foliated, about 20 leaves per lateral branch. Length: About 4.25 cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrulate to crenate. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Young and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole: Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 147D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Numerous and consistently double salmon pink-colored flowers. Freely and continuously flowering. Flower buds open similar to a rose in fullness; flowers rounded. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually about 24 flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and typically face upward or outward. Flowers last about 5 to 7 days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 cm. Depth: About 2.25 cm.

Flower buds.—Rate of opening, from showing color to fully open flower: About 2 to 3 days. Length, at stage of showing color: About 1.4 cm. Diameter, at stage of showing color: About 9 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 50D.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About 30 per flower; imbricate. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Oval to roughly cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: 50B, iridescent. When opening, lower surface: 50C to 50D. Fully opened, upper surface: 50B to 50C, iridescent; becoming more pink, 55B, with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: 52D; towards base, 155D.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a single whorl; one modified into an elongated spur. Calyx length: About 1.2 cm. Calyx diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: 145D. Lower surface: 145C with stripes, 145B, at mid-section; shiny.

Peduncles.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Angle: About 45° to the lateral branch. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: 147C.

Reproductive organs.—None observed.

Seed.—None observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Boddblsal’, as illustrated and described. 